Today I went to Sera - one of 3 Tibetan Monasteries in Lhasa....We met with Jason and Leigh's freind - a monk- who led us through the "colleges" and explained all the Buddhas and their stories to us- this was awesome for me cause I had never been before- but Jason was there to get down to business- he has an assignment from National Geographic to photograph 2 old and 2 young monks.... after having tea and meeting the 79 year old monk Jason was able to capture the moment perfectly- it was a lot of fun and we were able to experience a side of the monastery that a day to day traveler could not experience. I learned all about the rituals and traditions of the monks and visited the "home" area of two of the monks... the elder monk allowed us in becasue we are American.....friends of good old George W.....he is the only President who has met with the Dali Lama so Tibetans think he's ok~Unfortuanly there is a lot of our conversation I can not write about- there is so much fear instilled into the Tibetan people becasue of the goverment here

. Mentioning the Dali Lama is forbidden in Tibet- and could put people in danger....I will write more when I leave China- but for now I am in a communist country and I have to be wise in my words. i have never been subjected to such thought and voice control- and as the U.S celebrates Independence Day I feel for the people of Tibet and the "cultural genocide" that is occurring. The history of this holy land is as sad as Israel's and the struggles are very similar.....however, the Tibetan people are left completley powerless and without any hope... The Lama has been completely exhiled from Tibet by the Chinese Government and the region of Lhasa is being taken over by the Chinese......and by the way it is being called the "Liberation" of Tibet....More to come from Tibet- the people are wonderful and kind- the area is beautiful and I can finally breath normally (except for walking upstairs)!!

"I shall gather myself into myself again, I shall take myscattered selves and make them one, I shall fuse them into apolished crystal ball, Where I can see the moon and theflashing sun." -Sarah Teasdale (inspirational quotation from J.Webb)